Gang reel mower

Abstract

A gang reel mower consisting of a pair of mower heads of the ordinary reel type laterally spaced apart in a forward row, and another mower head disposed behind and laterally intermediate the mower heads in the forward row. Each mower head is castered about a vertical axis disposed forwardly thereof, in order that it may operate directly forwardly even when the mower as a whole is negotiating a turn, and the caster axis of the rear mower head is shifted laterally of the mower frame in order that it will always be aligned to cut the strip of grass left uncut by the front mower heads. Mechanism is provided for elevating the mower heads to a transport position well above ground level, and in so doing to cancel and lock any castering motion thereof.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A gang reel mower comprising: a. a generally horizontal frame having means for supporting it for movement over the ground in spaced relation thereabove,   b. a plurality of reel-type mower heads disposed in horizontally spaced apart relation beneath said frame, so as to be supported on the ground and to cut grass when moved forwardly thereover,   c. castering means connecting each of said mower heads to said frame for pivotal motion about a vertical axis disposed forwardly of said head, whereby each head moves accurately forwardly even when the mower is negotiating a turn,   d. means operable to drive said mower heads, and   e. power means operable when actuated to elevate said mower heads relative to said frame to a transport position out of contact with and well above ground level, said power means including means whereby it is rendered additionally operable, as it elevates each of said mower heads, to move said mower head to a central portion of its castering motion, and to substantially lock it against further castering motion.   
     
     
       2. A gang reel mower comprising: a. a generally horizontal frame having means for supporting it for movement over the ground in spaced relation thereabove, and adapted to be affixed to a tractor in forwardly extending relation to said tractor,   b. a plurality of reel-type mower heads disposed in horizontally spaced apart relation beneath said frame, so as to be supported on the ground and to cut grass when moved forwardly thereover, said mower heads being divided into forward and rearward sets, the forward set including two laterally spaced apart heads and the rearward set including one head disposed behind but laterally bridging the gap between the forward heads,   c. castering means connecting each of said mower heads to said frame for pivotal motion about a vertical axis disposed forwardly of said head, said castering means for each of said mower heads comprising a drawbar associated at its forward end with said frame for universal pivotal movement relative to said frame, and connected at its rearward end to said mower head for pivotal movement on a horizontal transverse axis,   d. a horizontal crank pivoted at its forward end to said frame coaxially with the castering axis of the drawbar of each of said forward mower heads, being disposed above and constrained to move in angular unison with said drawbar, said cranks extending generally rearwardly,   e. a transverse horizontal connecting bar extending between and pivoted to the rearward end of each of said cranks on a vertical axis, said connecting bar being axially rotatable about its pivotal connections to said cranks,   f. a carrier arm pivoted at its forward end to said frame on a vertical axis midway between the pivotal axis of said cranks, and pivoted on a vertical axis to said connecting bar midway between the connections of said bar to said cranks, said connecting bar also being axially rotatable about its pivotal connection to said carrier arm, said carrier arm extending well to the rear of said connecting bar and the drawbar of said rear mower head being universally pivoted to the rearward end thereof,   g. power means operable to pivot said connecting bar about its axis,   h. actuating means operable by said pivoting of said connecting bar to pivot each of said drawbars to elevate said mower heads above ground level, and   i. means operable to drive said mower heads.   
     
     
       3. A mower as recited in claim 2 wherein said actuating means, with respect to each of said front mower heads, comprises: a. a crank affixed radially to said connecting bar, and   b. a linkage between the free end of said connecting bar crank and the drawbar of said front mower head.   
     
     
       4. A mower as recited in claim 3 wherein there is a lost motion connection between said linkage and said drawbar, whereby said drawbar may normally freely pivot vertically to a limited degree. 
     
     
       5. A mower as recited in claim 2 wherein said actuating means, with respect to said rear mower head, comprises: a. a first pair of radially extending cranks affixed to said connecting bar, respectively at laterally opposite sides of said carrier arm, and   b. a first pair of flexible tension members attached respectively at their forward ends to said first cranks and at their rearward ends to the drawbar of said rear mower head, and being selected in length to remain slack so long as said rear head rests on the ground, but to first tighten and then lift said head as said connecting bar is pivoted.   
     
     
       6. A mower as recited in claim 5 wherein said first pair of tension members are selected in length to have equal amounts of slack when said rear mower head is on the ground, when the rear head is castered, directly rearwardly, and when said carrier arm also extends directly rearwardly, and wherein said power means for pivoting said connector bar comprises: a. a driver member carried by said frame for powered movement in a plane substantially normal to said connecting bar,   b. a second pair of radially extending cranks affixed to said connecting bar, respectively at opposite sides of the plane of movement of said driver member, and   c. a second pair of flexible tension members each attached at one end to said driver member, and respectively at their opposite ends to the outer ends of said second cranks, said second tension members being selected in length to remain slack at all castering positions of said front mower heads, and to have equal amounts of slack when said connecting bar is disposed at the midpoint of its longitudinal movement which occurs during castering of the forward heads, but to first tighten and then turn said second cranks as said driver member is moved in one direction.